Tipperary council officials offer support to neighbouring county's airport investment

At a recent meeting of Tipperary County Council's Carrick-on-Suir Municipal District, several councillors - including David Dunne, Amy Goldsboro, Kieran Bourke, Mark Fitzgerald, and Michael Brennan - called on the council to reach out to the appropriate authorities in support of Waterford Airport's development.

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The motion was introduced by Councillor Kieran Bourke, who highlighted the importance of upgrading Waterford Regional Airport in order to support economic growth across the South East.

The motion was backed by Councillor David Dunne, who pointed to the airport’s significance for both tourism and industry in the region.

In Waterford, the airport’s future also came under discussion. Councillor Mary Roche raised the idea of Waterford City and County Council potentially borrowing €12 million to finance the extension of the airport’s runway. She questioned whether such a move would be a strategically sound investment for the council.

In response, Waterford Council Chief Executive Sean McKeown expressed opposition to the proposal. He cited both the financial risk and the potential long-term consequences, explaining that self-funding the project could jeopardize future eligibility for national funding.

According to McKeown, regional airports like Knock and Kerry have benefited from being part of national aviation policy—something Waterford Airport risks losing if the council takes independent financial action.

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